Machine for shelling and polishing grain and the like



M. Hor-'F MACHINE FOR SHELLING AND POLISHING GRAIN AND THE LIKE Original Filed June l2. w24

Nve/-foR MART/M Hoff l 7am/wm after.

K with a pulley L secured upon the main shaft to be 4more fully referred to herein- The illustrated machine may otherwise be constructed and arranged to operate in the manner set forth and illustrated in the 'an- Vplication of which this application is a division. Y

As illustrated in Figs. '2 to 6 the walls 11 of the shelling chambers. 1, 2 and 3 `are pn vvided upon their inner faces linings 12 of a character and type suitable to the treatments to be .carried out in said chambers. Within the latter according to Figs. 2 and 3, paddle 'wheels 13 are mounted upon the shaft 10 so as to rotate therewith, the peripheriesof said wheels being spaced from the linings 12. Upon their -peripheries the paddle '.wheels`13 are providedV with a series of Y and to each other and are enabled to swing to either side ofa radial position. Because of the fac-t that the paddles are constructed in the form of think plates they may be located in close proximity to each other upon the wheels whereby the efficiency of the niachine for its intended purposes is materially increased.

In the form shown in Figa the paddles 14a, which are preferably also in the form of thin plates, slightly curved, are provided with lugs 16 which are pivotally mounted upon rods or the like'l'; the latter are iixed upon the paddle wheel 13'a andconstitute the means whereby said paddles 14a are pivotally supported upon said wheel. The paddles are all provided with rearward lextensions 18 Vwhich serve ascounterweights and absorb a part of the centrifugal force developed .in

' the Vpaddles 14e when the machineisin operation; at Jthe same time the extensions 18 by engagement with stops 19 located at the proper points upon the wheel 13, may arrest the`A outward movement of the outer paddle portions and thus predetermine their outermost positions. The latter are so calculated that the space between the outer edges of the paddles and the inner surfaces ofthe shelling 4 chamber-s,Y corresponds mately to the thickness of a kernel or other unit of' the material beingtreated.

- Vln .some cases the `stops 19 may be adjustablyfarranged on the wheel 13a to vary the outermost position of the paddles 14a. Further-more, if desired, the-pivots of the paddles may be adjustable on the Wheel in radial directions,by'shifting either the lugs 16 or the rods 17. In this form also, the paddles approxi-l as shown in Fig. 6 each ofthe paddles llll Y consi-sts ot a plurality of adjacent andindependentlypmovable sections.'4 lf desired the blades20 maybe adjustable upon the wheels 13b in radial directions in order to vary the adjustment Vof the paddles with respect to the linings 12 kof the shelling chambers.l

'Assuming that the various adjustments required in the mechanical `parts of themachin-e have been made, and that the apparatus is in operative condition, it being` understood that grain or other material is contained in each of trie shelling'chambers 1,`

2 and 3, the operation will be as follows: Suitable power being applied to the pulley' N, the main shaftlO of the machine will be i Y rotated and accordingly will cause the paddlesll, 14a, 141', as the case may be, to travel in proximity to the lining' 12 of the various shelling chambers l, 2 and 3.

Asthe paddle wheels 13, 13a, 13b, as the case may be, are rotated, the paddles le, 14a, 14' under the influence of centrifugal vforce are thrown against or caused to engage the grain or thev lik-e to be shelled Vor otherwise treated in the chambers 1, 2 and 3, the arrangementbeing suoli thatsaid paddles may easily yield under any pressures exerted by the material in question. As the paddles do not engage the lining 12 of the shelling chambers at any time, abutments or stops for said paddles are not required.

ln the present machine all of the shelling chambers simultaneously contain grain or other material, so that during a given period place simultaneously in all of the chambers. After the treating period has passed,it is followed by a likewise predeterminedperiod of time, during which apcharge of completely treated material is c lischarged from the terminal chamber 3, after which partly treated charges of the` material are transferred from the shelling chamber v2 tothe shelling chamber 3 and then from thel shellingchamber 1 to the chamber 2; after the transfer from the chamberpl has taken place a new charge Vis introduced. into the' same.l This cycle of operations is repeated in continuous sequence throughout any given period of operation of the machine.

The arrangement of paddles avoids undesirable smashing of the material, renders unnecessary theuse of springs for operat- Vof time, the shelling or other treatment takes ingsaid paddles and at the Sametime avoids` excessive weight therein. In the presentcase, the paddles because of the relatively light weight, and by the action of centrifugal force are pressed against the grain or other material to be treated with a relative-V ly light pressure, so that injury to the kerillustrated in Fig. 6.

nels cannot take place; that is to say, the paddles have a relatively weak working pressure. In order to increase the yieldabil` 'ity of the paddles, the latter may consist of a plurality of independent sections as vThese sections are .capable of independent movements and may yield independently under the'action of ma terial under treatment. With the above ar-k rangements, a'complete and uniform shelling or other treatment isv provided with a lminimum ofpower, and at the same time,

the efficiency of the ,machine is materially increased. The kernels or other material when in thel shelling chambers are forced to assume the form of Va band-like layerwhich passes between the paddles and the lining of spect to Vthe direction of operation. V'Ihe' v band of material mayas a matter of fact .be reduced in depth to the thickness of an single kernel. Various changes 1n the specic form shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

l. In a machine of the kind described, the

combinationv of a rotatable wheel, and a plurality of paddles connected therewith' loose# ly toswing about axes parallel to the axis of the wheel, and each constructed of thin, relatively light material adapted to develop a relatively light centrifugal pressure upon the material being treated, said paddles being located in close proximity to each other.

2. In a machine of the kind described, the

Y combination of a rotatable wheel, aplurality of paddles pivotally vmounted Vupon said wheel to swing to either side ofa radial position. Y y f 3. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a rotatable wheel, a plu'- rality' of paddles and eyelets whereby said paddles are pivotally connected with said wheel. Y

i Li. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a rotatable wheel, aplur'ality of paddles, lugs on said paddles and pivotrods carried by said wheel andy passing through said lugs to pivotally attach said paddles-to said wheel. i

5.. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a rotatable wheel, a pluralityV of paddles and pivotal connections whereby said connections being adjustable in radial f directions relatively to said wheel.

6. Ina machine of the kindv described,'the

paddles and wheel and rearward extensions on said paddles constituting counterweights against which 'centrifugal force is operative.

7. Ina machine of thekind described, the

paddles; i

8. In a machine of thekind described, the combination of a .rotatablewheeh a plural- '.75 Y' combination of a rotatable wheel,a plurality 1 of paddles, pivotal connections between said ity vof blades arrangedl upon said wheel and the latter'beinv adjustable on said wheel in radial directions.

paddles movably connectedwith said blades,

f 10. In a machine of thekind described,

the. combination of a rotatable wheel, a'plurahty of plates arranged upon saidy wheel and paddles movablyfconnectedwith said plates, said paddles eachy comprising a plu- Y rality of contiguousv sections freely movable independently of each other.

` `In testimony MARTIN Hors. 

